Nix Integration
===============
`Nix `_ is a package manager popular with some Haskell developers due to its focus on reliability and reproducibility. ``cabal`` now has the ability to integrate with Nix for dependency management during local package development.
Enabling Nix Integration
------------------------
To enable Nix integration, simply pass the ``--enable-nix`` global option when you call ``cabal``. To use this option everywhere, edit your ``$HOME/.cabal/config`` file to include:
.. code-block:: cabal
nix: True
If the package (which must be locally unpacked) provides a ``shell.nix`` or ``default.nix`` file, this flag will cause ``cabal`` to run most commands through ``nix-shell``. If both expressions are present, ``shell.nix`` is preferred. The following commands are affected:
- ``cabal configure``
- ``cabal build``
- ``cabal repl``
- ``cabal install`` (only if installing into a sandbox)
- ``cabal haddock``
- ``cabal freeze``
- ``cabal gen-bounds``
- ``cabal run``
If the package does not provide an expression, ``cabal`` runs normally.
Creating Nix Expressions
------------------------
The Nix package manager is based on a lazy, pure, functional programming language; packages are defined by expressions in this language. The fastest way to create a Nix expression for a Cabal package is with the `cabal2nix `_ tool. To create a ``shell.nix`` expression for the package in the current directory, run this command:
.. code-block:: console
$ cabal2nix --shell ./. >shell.nix
Nix Expression Evaluation
-------------------------
(This section describes for advanced users how Nix expressions are evaluated.)
First, the Nix expression (``shell.nix`` or ``default.nix``) is instantiated with ``nix-instantiate``. The ``--add-root`` and ``--indirect`` options are used to create an indirect root in the Cabal build directory, preventing Nix from garbage collecting the derivation while in use. The ``IN_NIX_SHELL`` environment variable is set so that ``builtins.getEnv`` works as it would in ``nix-shell``.
Next, the commands above are run through ``nix-shell`` using the instantiated derivation. Again, ``--add-root`` and ``--indirect`` are used to prevent Nix from garbage collecting the packages in the environment. The child ``cabal`` process reads the ``CABAL_IN_NIX_SHELL`` environment variable to prevent it from spawning additional child shells.
Further Reading
----------------
The `Nix manual `_ provides further instructions for writing Nix expressions. The `Nixpkgs manual `_ describes the infrastructure provided for Haskell packages.